Dec. 25, 2016, people flocked to nearby theatres to see the newly-released movie Hidden Figures, and ended up in tears. The powerful storyline brought on an emotional rollercoaster, and viewers were left with an overflow of feelings. The movie, based on a true story, focuses on three African-American women who work for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Each character is intelligent, but each is confronted with several obstacles due to their race and their gender. The struggles that they faced kept them motivated to prove society wrong.
The movie revolves around the lives of Katherine Johnson (Taraji P. Henson), Mary Jackson (Janelle Monáe), and Dorothy Vaughan (Octavia Spencer), each woman possessing her own extraordinary capabilities. While they show tremendous amounts of potential, they are each hindered by cultural stigma. For example, Katherine works crunching numbers in the Flight Research Division of the space administration, but much of her day is wasted when she has to run to the restroom; the only colored women’s room was half a mile away. Mary’s only chance to reach her dream job involved a court battle, as she intended to apply to an all-white school. Dorothy was constantly pushed back from becoming supervisor of her division in NASA: though she did the work, she didn’t receive the pay. The three women encouraged each other to collectively stand up for themselves and prove to society that they are worthy of equal rights.
Themes of perseverance and friendship are prominent throughout the entirety of the movie. As the focus is on three female African-Americans, the plot line is written to combat sexism and racism simultaneously. By being involved in one of the most impactful worldwide events of the late 20th century, the Space Race, these women helped initiate the fight against gender and racial discrimination. Katherine, Mary, and Dorothy stick together through thick and thin, and show one of the most famous and technologically advanced associations in the world, NASA, that anybody can achieve great things with perseverance. The story leaves a heavy impression on both the hearts and minds of viewers. It teaches us a universal lesson that people should hear more often: no matter what anybody says, if one simply believes in oneself, they can accomplish anything.

3.5/4 Stars